Gov-Elect Rick Scott Thanks Family, Supporters
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - With a hard-fought, too-close-to-call race behind him, Rick Scott took the podium Wednesday morning to thank his family and supporters who chose him to be the next Governor of Florida.
Scott was joined on the podium just after noon at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina by his family and Lt. Governor-elect Jennifer Carroll.
"Florida is open for business," Scott said to open his speech, "From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you for this great victory. Nothing in my life has honored me as much as your willingness and the willingness of everyone in Florida, the Florida voters, to put their faith in my plan for turning around the great State of Florida. Thank You."
Scott said when he first started out, many politicians and political insiders said a victory would be impossible. He said he was able to achieve it by listening to the people of Florida who had a clear message – "Let's Get To Work" – which became one of the major themes of his campaign.
Scott interpreted what his win means to voters.
"With this election they sent a message, they knew what they want. Let's get to work!" Scott told the crowd.
Scott will have to build a consensus to create the thousands of jobs he's been promising. He won by a razor thin margin over his opponent and he has to mend fences with members of his own party he criticized for being too cozy with lobbyists.
"I will work without regard to party starting today, I work for every Floridian," he said.
Scott then thanked his wife of 38 years and jokingly apologized to his daughters, Allison and Jordan, for using part of their inheritance to pay for his campaign. Scott used more than $70 million from his private funds to finance his campaign.
"I want to thank my daughters, Allison and Jordan. My daughters are the reason I decided to run for Governor. Looking at them, I'm glad they're still smiling. Looking at them, as they launch their own adult lives, I knew I owed them the same chance to live the American Dream that Ann and I have had."
Scott also mentioned how his grandmother, Esther, gave him some of the best advice he's ever received in his life.
"When I was a boy complaining about the things we didn't have she's day 'Ricky', which I always hated, 'Get to work'. I'm here today because I got to work," said Scott.
Scott then thanked Carroll for agreeing to run as his lieutenant governor and helping him bring their message of 'Seven steps to 700 thousand jobs' to the voters.
Scott also had a message for the thousands of Floridians who were hurting or unemployed.
"Don't give up. I am giving you my word, better days are coming. In the coming days, I'm going to put together a team of people who are just as committed to our shared vision of shrinking government and building private sector jobs. We are going job hunting on behalf of all the people of Florida and we are not going to stop job hunting until everyone has the opportunity to get back to work," said Scott.
A Scott supporter Corey Alston said he was optimistic with the change.
"I'm a registered Democrat, but I'm celebrating having the first African-American Lieutenant governor in Florida," Alston said.
Scott and Carroll will be sworn into office on January 4th, 2011.
